Skepticism

Speaking to Power

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Abraham Trembley – Naturalist

Abraham Trembley (born today, 3 September 1710 – 12 May 1784) was a Swissnaturalist. He is best known for being the first to study freshwater polyps or hydra and for being among the first to develop experimental zoology. His mastery of experimental method has led some historians of science to credit him as the “father of biology“

While Trembley thought he had discovered a new species, Leeuwenhoek had in fact first published on hydra in 1702, describing them as a type of plant.

Trembley’s findings were published in a 1744 book, Mémoires pour servir à l’histoired’un genre depolypesd’eaudouce, translated into German in 1791 as AbhandlungenzurGeschichteeinerPolypenartdessüssenWassers.

“Although the technique of grafting animal tissues together is widely used in experimental biology and in medicine, few scientists know how and where the technique originated. Interestingly, among those who rightfully credit Abraham Trembley of Geneva with carrying out the first animal grafts on the freshwater hydra (Trembley, 1744), some report incorrectly how the very first of these grafts were made (e.g.,Baker, 1953). In this review we describe the first animal grafts as presented by Trembley in his Memoires(1744), and show how they originated from his experiments on turning hydra inside out. Where appropriate, we use Trembley’s own words in direct translation or in paraphrase,together with copies of the original illustrations published in 1744.

By describing the details of his experiments and the thoughts behind them, wehope to introduce many biologists, who are but dimly aware of Trembley, to aremarkable figure in the history of biology. Unlike most of his peers, Trembleyconducted and reported his experiments with a detail, caution, logic, and rigor rarefor his time. In recognition of his astounding discoveries, he was elected to the RoyalSociety of London and in 1743 was awarded its prestigious Copley Medal, consideredthen to be one of science’s highest honors.”